International Football
SUPER FALCONS IN MAKE-OR-MAR SITUATION AT WOMEN’S AFRICA CUP OF NATIONS
BY APESIN ADEMOLA.
To land in the knockout stages without bringing out the calculator or depending on other considerations, the Super Falcons have to beat former champions Equatorial Guinea.
Ten years ago when Equatorial Guinea broke the Nigerian monopoly in this competition by hosting and winning the title, the Super Falcons were halted in the semifinal 1-0 by the central African country.
Four years and two editions later, Africa’s elite female footballers returned to Equatorial Guinea for the tournament. Again, Nigeria got beaten in the last four, but this time by South Africa 0-1 while Equatorial Guinea went on the lift the trophy yet again.
Nigeria have since made amends by winning the two editions that followed Equatorial Guinea 2012.
Equatorial Guinea have been on the decline. They failed to qualify for Namibia 2014 to defend their title and also missed the last finals in Cameroon.
That dip in form has caused Equatorial Guineans two defeats in as many matches in the ongoing competition with 12 goals conceded and only one scored.
On paper, Nigeria should beat Equatorial Guinea to avenge the 2008 loss and be among the semi finalists. But the Falcons themselves have not given their fans so much hope, particularly after losing their opening fixture to South Africa.
If the determination with which the Nigerian women responded in bashing Zambia 4-0 in their last match returns, Equatorial Guinea will have a competition to forget.
In the other fixture, South Africa, who have been in conquering form, will need only a point or Nigeria not winning to join Cameroon and Mali in the semifinals.
If Nigeria triumph and South Africa crash, both teams will be on same points with Zambia and a head-to-head rule will be applied to determine the two teams progressing to the last four.
Topping the group will mean Nigeria will avoid Cameroon in the semifinal to face Mali.
Fixtures…
Equatorial Guinea v Nigeria (5pm)
South Africa v Zambia (5pm)
Well-travelled Portuguese coach Paulo Duarte has been named as Guinea’s new coach, less than a month before their next round of World Cup qualifiers.
Duarte, 56, has twice previously coached Burkina Faso and taken charge of Gabon and Togo, while also coaching at clubs in Portugal, France, Tunisia, Angola and Saudi Arabia.
Guinea’s football federation gave no contract details when they made the announcement on Monday, but said they would be looking for Duarte to “restructure their national team”.
Guinea trail leaders Algeria by eight points in their World Cup qualifying group with four games remaining, leaving them with only a slim chance of qualification.
They play Somalia away on September 5 and then Algeria at home on September 8 in their next two qualifiers although a stadium ban means Guinea have moved their home game to Casablanca, Morocco.
-Reuters
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Veteran coach Louis van Gaal says he has been cured of cancer and is keen for a return to the higher levels of the game.
The 73-year-old announced three years ago that he was suffering from prostate cancer, but told a Dutch television talk show, “I’m no longer bothered by cancer.”
When he announced his illness, Van Gaal was the coach of the Dutch national team, but he has not worked since the last World Cup in Qatar in 2022.
“Two years ago, I had a few operations. It was all bad then. But it all worked out in the end. I have check-ups every few months, and that’s going well. I’m getting fitter and fitter,” he said.
Van Gaal, whose career has included stints at Ajax Amsterdam, Barcelona, Bayern Munich and Manchester United, reiterated a lack of interest in returning to club management but said becoming the national coach of a top-tier country could tempt him back.
He now serves as a special advisor to Ajax.
-Reuters
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In a compelling twist of football destiny, Davide Ancelotti is stepping into his own spotlight as he begins his first head coaching role at Brazilian club Botafogo—just months after parting ways with his legendary father, Carlo Ancelotti, at Real Madrid.
The 35-year-old has been appointed as Botafogo’s new manager, the club announced on Tuesday, following the sacking of Renato Paiva. Davide, who has spent the last decade working alongside his father at some of Europe’s top clubs—including Bayern Munich, Napoli, Everton, and Real Madrid—has signed a one-year deal with the Rio-based team.
This marks a significant milestone for the younger Ancelotti, whose career has long been shaped by his father’s influence, but who now faces the challenge of carving his own identity on the touchline.
The move comes shortly after both father and son departed Real Madrid at the end of last season, with Carlo taking over the Brazilian national team. Now, in a poetic alignment, father and son find themselves on different paths within Brazilian football—one leading the Seleção, the other steering the fortunes of a storied domestic club.
Botafogo’s decision to appoint Davide follows a controversial parting with Paiva, who was dismissed just days after their exit from the Club World Cup. Though he oversaw a stunning win over Champions League holders Paris Saint-Germain, a 1-0 extra-time loss to Palmeiras in the round of 16 proved to be his final act after just four months in charge.
As Davide Ancelotti begins this new chapter, all eyes will be on whether the son of one of football’s most decorated managers can step out from his father’s shadow—and perhaps, in time, build a legacy of his own.
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